The US deported 414 Indians in early 2026, while European countries sent back 174, with MEA detailing safeguards against fraudulent overseas recruitment….reports India Daily News Desk
The United States deported 414 Indian nationals between January 1 and March 31, 2026, while European countries deported 174 Indians during the same period, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In a written reply to a question on the deportation of Indian nationals from the United States, Mexico and European countries, Jaishankar said the US recorded the highest number of deportations among individual countries during the first quarter of 2026.
The data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs showed that 588 Indian nationals in total were deported from the US and European countries between January and March 2026.
Among European countries, the United Kingdom recorded the highest number of deportations, with 57 Indian nationals sent back during the three-month period. Cyprus followed with 53 deportations.
Other European countries reporting deportations of Indian nationals during the period included Greece with 10, Turkiye with eight, France with six, Italy with five, Germany with four, Sweden with four, the Netherlands with four, Belgium with three, Portugal with three, Romania with three, Serbia with three, Denmark with two, Austria with one, Poland with one and Latvia with three.
The figures also showed that deportations of Indian nationals from the US have increased significantly over recent years. The United States deported 617 Indians in 2023, followed by 1,368 in 2024 and 2,025 in 2025. A further 414 deportations were recorded during the first three months of 2026.
The MEA data also highlighted the continuing number of deportations from Cyprus and the UK in recent years.
Cyprus deported 173 Indian nationals in 2023, 183 in 2024 and 164 in 2025. This amounted to a total of 520 Indian nationals deported from Cyprus over the three-year period.
The UK deported 98 Indians in 2023, 110 in 2024 and 156 in 2025, bringing the total number of deportations from the country during those three years to 364.
Responding to the question, Jaishankar also outlined steps being taken against illegal agents and fraudulent recruitment networks accused of luring Indian nationals with false overseas employment offers.
“As and when complaints against illegal agents/dubious firms luring Indian nationals in false recruitment offers through various channels are received, such matters are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution under the relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other legislation in place,” the External Affairs Minister said.
The Ministry noted that it does not maintain the status of local prosecution in such cases. However, it said that 3,505 unregistered agents in the country had been notified on the eMigrate portal up to October 2025.
The Ministry of External Affairs continues to issue advisories through the eMigrate portal, social media platforms and other publicity channels to warn Indian nationals about fraudulent overseas job offers and illegal migration routes.
It also conducts awareness programmes to inform stakeholders about emigration regulations, the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana, Pre-Departure Orientation Training, eMigrate services and advisories issued by Indian missions abroad.
The ministry advised people seeking employment overseas to verify the credentials of recruiting agents before accepting any job offer and to remain cautious about fraudulent recruitment schemes.
The government has also clarified the position regarding the rehabilitation of Indians deported from foreign countries. Jaishankar said that “reintegration of returned Indian migrants rests with the State governments from where the emigrants belong.”
The reply was given in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on the deportation of Indian nationals.
In a separate written reply concerning legal assistance for Indians detained abroad, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said Indian Missions and Posts provide financial assistance for legal aid to deserving Indian nationals in distress through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
Singh said families of Indian nationals involved in legal cases abroad are generally advised to arrange lawyers and bear the expenditure connected with legal proceedings, including cases involving missing or detained Indians.
However, Indian Missions and Posts can provide financial assistance to those unable to afford legal representation.
“Indian Missions/Posts provide financial aid for legal assistance on a means-tested basis to deserving Indian nationals in distress abroad under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF),” Singh said in his reply.
The assistance is available to various categories of Indians facing difficulties overseas, including those involved in minor crimes, Indians detained in jails, students, migrant workers and Indian women in distress.
The Ministry further said several Indian Missions and Posts in countries with sizeable Indian populations maintain panels of lawyers to provide legal assistance to eligible Indian nationals.
“Several Indian Missions/Posts with a sizeable population of Indian nationals maintain a panel of lawyers to provide legal assistance to deserving Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested basis,” the Ministry said.
